 Towns and villages within the area include Bigbury/Burgh Island, Kingsbridge, Newton Ferrers, Battisborough Cross, Salcombe on the Kingsbridge Estuary, Slapton, Wembury, and Dartmouth and Kingswear on either side of the River Dart Estuary.The AONB also includes several Sites of Special Scientific Interest, including two national nature reserves and four Special Areas of Conservation.It contains nationally important populations of greater horseshoe bat, cirl bunting, shore dock and great green bush cricket.